Clete Thomas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Detroit Tigers — No. 36 | |
| Center fielder | |
| Born: November 14, 1983 Jacksonville, Florida |
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| Bats: Left | Throws: Right |
| Major League Baseball debut | |
| March 31, 2008 for the Detroit Tigers | |
| Selected MLB statistics (through May 28, 2008) |
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| Batting average | .295 |
| Home runs | 0 |
| Runs batted in | 5 |
| Stolen bases | 2 |
| Teams | |
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Michael Clete Thomas (born November 14, 1983 in Jacksonville, Florida) is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Detroit Tigers.
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[edit] Career
Thomas attended Auburn University, where he played right field and batted .328 on the 2005 team which lost to Florida State in the NCAA regional tournament. Then finishing his junior year, Thomas entered the draft and was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the sixth round on June 8 and signed on June 21, 2005. Initially assigned to the Oneonta Tigers in the New York-Penn League, Thomas was promoted to the West Michigan Whitecaps on July 13, and proceeded to appear in 51 games, hitting .284.[1][2][3]
Thomas spent the 2006 season with the Lakeland Tigers, where he appeared in 132 games and hit .257 with 40 RBIs and 34 stolen bases. In 2007 he was promoted to Erie, where he hit .280 with 53 RBIs and 18 stolen bases. Thomas, along with fellow outfielder Matt Joyce, was considered a likely future major leaguer. Commenting on the two, then-Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski remarked that "We think they're both prospects...We're not counting on them for this year, but they've got a chance to play at the Triple-A level (this season), depending on how they do this spring."[3][4]
[edit] Detroit Tigers
A non-roster invite to 2008 spring training, Thomas made the team after starting center fielder Curtis Granderson broke a finger and went on the disabled list.[5] On Opening Day 2008, Thomas entered the game as a defensive replacement and made his first major league putout against Joey Gathright of the Kansas City Royals. Thomas later hit a double in the bottom of the 11th inning off Royals closer Joakim Soria for his first major league hit.[6][7]
Thomas has split time in the 2008 Major League Baseball season between the Tigers and the AAA-affiliate Toledo Mud Hens. On April 23, Thomas was optioned to the Tigers' AAA-affiliate Toledo Mud Hens when Curtis Granderson was activated from the disabled list.[8] Thomas was recalled from Toledo May 29 to replace struggling Matt Joyce.[9]
[edit] References
- ^ "Draft may be Caps' cure; Lower-level leagues won't be providing help", Grand Rapids Press, June 21, 2005, p. D8. Retrieved on 2008-04-22.
- ^ "'Caps rally at home; Frazier's 2-run double in 8th lifts West Michigan", Grand Rapids Press, July 14, 2005, p. D3. Retrieved on 2008-04-22.
- ^ a b Clete Thomas Statistics (Minor Leagues). Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-22.
- ^ Morosi, Jon Paul. "Dombrowski has inklings of deals but no inkings", Detroit Free Press, November 9, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-04-22.
- ^ "Tigers tell Thomas to suit up; Outfielder probable for opening-day roster", Grand Rapids Press, March 28, 2008, p. D5. Retrieved on 2008-04-22.
- ^ March 31, 2008 Kansas City Royals at Detroit Tigers Play by Play and Box Score - Baseball-Reference.com
- ^ Morosi, Jon Paul. "Inge, rookie Thomas give Royals pain", Detroit Free Press, March 31, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-04-22.
- ^ Grandy's back! Tigers' Curtis Granderson to play, lead off tonight | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press
- ^ Tigers send Matt Joyce to Toledo; Clete Thomas to take his spot | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press
[edit] External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube
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